We are now just over 11 months through 2016 and most people, myself included, are counting down the final miles of 2016 in anticipation of hitting the goals they set back last New Year. Personally, my goal was to ride less miles than in 2015 so absolutely smashed that goal, just in the wrong direction. Somehow I've ended up doing about 5,000 miles more than last year and there is still a month to go. It's not my fault cycling is so much fun but maybe next year I'll actually try and ride a few less miles.

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For the meantime though here are 5 things from 15,000 miles:

Cyclists love their cake and given we're getting all festive I'm thought I'd look at how many mince pies I could have eaten this year. Having burnt a whopping 482,670 calories according to Garmin Connect, I am currently entitled to 1,856 mince pies. Equally, if I take up drinking I could always have 212 bottles of Bailey's Irish Cream.

I've been in the saddle for 838 hours this year. According to Google this is more than enough time to learn a second language if I put in ten hours a day. I'm not sure I've got the balls for that and might just stick to the saddle.

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Coffee has become a ritual for all keen cyclists. Each cup contains on average 40mg of caffeine and given I'll usually have two coffees on the days I ride, I've racked up 39,200mg of caffeine so far this year which if consumed all at once is enough to kill me three times at least.

I've climbed 734,000ft so far which means I could have Everested Everest about 25 times and would currently be on the way back to base camp for attempt number 26.

I've ridden 15,000 miles which is only just longer than the worlds longest car-free bike trail which is due to open in Canada shortly. Although thankfully it would be enough to visit the entire length of the Great Wall of China.

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Of course there is still a month to go in 2016 and I can't help but push for 16,000 miles now I know it's possible. Doing 1,000 miles in December isn't unusual for me and is only aided by the fact that Rapha run their Festive 500 challenge inviting riders to complete 300 miles between Christmas and New Year. I'll be blogging my way through the last 1,000 miles and particularly my riding of the Festive 500 which I've given a theme this year.

How are your goals going and what are your cake related stats for 2016 so far?